HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND SERVICES IN THE MEDICAL LIBRARIES OF BANGLADESH: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

In today’s ICT-based environment, medical libraries throughout the world are practicing modern library systems and services in an attempt to meet the diversified needs of their users. Most of the medical libraries in Bangladesh are not fully equipped with modem ICT facilities, latest print and online collections, necessary budget for subscribing to print and e-resources, and a shortage of fully qualified and experienced staff members. In view of the above situation, it is very essential to ascertain the ext ent of library ICT facilities, automation, institutional repositories (IR), online and print resources, health information systems, and services that have so far been adopted by the medical libraries of Bangladesh. Hence, the researcher planned to evaluate health information systems and services provided in the selected medical libraries of the country. The overall health information systems and services in Bangladesh are not at a satisfactory level so far. The medical libraries in Bangladesh have not made significant attempts till now in respect of Library Automation, developing Institutional Repositories, Integrated Library Systems, subscribing to e-journals and online databases, and networking through library consortiums. The medical libraries of Bangladesh are now facing new challenges and opportunities for the development of the health library system. The broad objective of the study is to identify the existing status of Health Information Systems and Services in twenty medical libraries of Bangladesh including infrastructural facilities, ICT facilities, and services, and to develop a model plan integrated with modern ICT tools and technologies. A clear picture of historical growth, current trends, and developments, availability of information resources, Health Information Systems, and services of the surveyed medical libraries are also explored in the study. A mixed-method research design (i.e. combination of qualitative and quantitative methods) is being followed. Two main stakeholders, the library users, and the respective library heads were considered for the survey. In this research study, the researcher has taken a non-probability sampling approach and chosen the convenience sampling method. The investigator distributed a total of 500 questionnaires among the scientists, doctors, students, researchers, and staff members of six medical libraries selected for the study. Out of 500 questionnaires distributed a total of 412 filled questionnaires were received with a response rate of 82.4%.

The study design has been divided into eight chapters viz. Chapter 1: Introduction and Methodology; Chapter 2: Literature Review; Chapter 3: Health System and Medical Libraries: Bangladesh Scenario; Chapter 4: Medical Library Systems and Services: International Scenario; Chapter 5: Profile of Surveyed Medical Libraries; Chapter 6: Data Analysis and Interpretation: Chapter 7: Model Plan for designing modern library systems and services in the medical libraries of Bangladesh; and Chapter 8: Findings, Recommendations, and Conclusion. The study explores the core challenges for the medical libraries in Bangladesh like Budget Constraints, Poor ICT Infrastructure, Lack of Library Automation, Skilled Manpower, Lack of Professional Librarians, Lack of Sufficient Professional Library Personnel, Inadequate ICT Resources, Absence of Networking and Resource Sharing, and Lack of Online Resources. The study finally suggests twenty recommendations for the overall benefit of the medical libraries, the most notable are Proper Funds Allocation, Implementation of ILS, Strong ICT Infrastructure, Member of Library Consortium, Electronic Collection Development, Building Institutional Repository (IR), Digitizing Existing Materials, Advanced Training Programmes, and ICT-based Services.